Pro Bono Volunteer Work
Mission Statement
I offer volunteer work for lower economic individuals and non profit organizations doing important work in the world. This can vary from someone who has started a small business, to documenting a variety of projects for non-profits, to just taking some nice portraits to someone I meet walking around to use for a resume. Below is information in some of the pro bono work I have done over the last few years. I have worked hard at documenting the people who are usually left out of the photographs. These are mainly communities of minorities. I spend time documenting these communities because I find it important that they are visually documented and therefore included. If people don't see themselves in images in the world, they don't feel welcome into that world. I try to fix that in my own small way. I have documented members of the LGBTQIO community, people of color, refugees, political activists, women, special needs community, and many others. Sometimes I do this in small ways. I go on walks around the city and if I see someone interesting I will ask to take a photograph and then offer it to them. I see this as just offering the simple gift of letting someone know they matter. In the world we are currently living in these communities are told that they don't. Again I can't change the world but I can try to let people know they matter through photography.
I offer volunteer work for lower economic individuals and non profit organizations doing important work in the world. This can vary from someone who has started a small business, to documenting a variety of projects for non-profits, to just taking some nice portraits to someone I meet walking around to use for a resume. Below is information in some of the pro bono work I have done over the last few years. I have worked hard at documenting the people who are usually left out of the photographs. These are mainly communities of minorities. I spend time documenting these communities because I find it important that they are visually documented and therefore included. If people don't see themselves in images in the world, they don't feel welcome into that world. I try to fix that in my own small way. I have documented members of the LGBTQIO community, people of color, refugees, political activists, women, special needs community, and many others. Sometimes I do this in small ways. I go on walks around the city and if I see someone interesting I will ask to take a photograph and then offer it to them. I see this as just offering the simple gift of letting someone know they matter. In the world we are currently living in these communities are told that they don't. Again I can't change the world but I can try to let people know they matter through photography.
Free Photography Mentoring Program
I offer six free two hour classes for six months, and help as needed for an additional six months. I offer this to members of the LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC comment aged 16-99. The financial qualification is for people making under $30,000 a year (with proof of financial records) If you don’t fall into this category I offer sliding scale classes based on your income or families income. I am a certified special Ed teacher with years of art and other teaching experience and have all my clearances. I work with a student led hands on project based learning approach.
The People’s Baptist Church
The People’s Baptist Church was organized in the autumn of 1917 in the home of Reverend Marcellus Thomas Jeffries who became the first Pastor. Deacon George Jennings suggested the name “The People’s Baptist Church” and it was accepted. The young Church was recognized in March 1918. The late Reverend C. W. Gregory, Pastor of the Mt. Zion Baptist Church, took an interest in the group and moderated many of the early meetings. The Church’s first regular meeting place was on the second floor of 8201 Eastwick A venue. They purchased the lots at 8208-12 Eastwick A venue and moved into a house at 8212 after renovating it. While worshipping there they built an edifice at 8208-10 Eastwick which they moved into in 1941. They remained there until June 1965 when they moved into their present Church home at 5039 Baltimore Ave. Rev. Eric Jadolyn Goode was called to be Pastor of this Church on March 22, 2014 from the New Hope Temple Baptist Church, Philadelphia, PA under the Pastorate of Rev. John Coger. Rev. Goode Service of Installation was held on Sunday, May 25, 2014. He has moved to continue the 45-years of great work begun by former Pastor Matthew M. Williams. Rev. Goode wishes to remain cognizant of his memory He also continues to recognize Mrs. Genevieve Williams as First-Lady Emeritus of The People’s Baptist Church
Survivor Knights and Ask A Sex Abuse Survivor Portraits
Survivor Knights are a group of survivors of sexual abuse who have found each other through our love of art. I documented Ask A Sex Abuse Survivor event and offered portraits of the members of Survivor Knights. The event was run by both groups. I offered this because I believe that seeing a nice photograph of yourself can let a person see themselves in a different light with pride.
http://www.facebook.com/pg/SurvivorKnights
http://www.facebook.com/pg/SurvivorKnights
Student-Run Emergency Housing Unit of Philadelphia Portraits
The Student Run Emergency Housing Unit of Philadelphia (SREHUP) is an initiative of Philadelphia area college students who house individuals experiencing homelessness during the coldest months of the winter and help connect them to the services they need to climb out of homelessness.
I am working on an ongoing project to spend some time at the center and document the members. There is something that happens when a person sees a nice photograph of themselves, especially those that are struggling with homelessness and other associated issues. They can see themselves in a different light. These photographs can also used for personal reasons such as needed professional photos for employment and such. I spent a lot of time connecting with the guys there and hearing their stories. Part of taking a good portrait is the connection you have with the person you are taking a photo of, which is the favorite part for me.
http://www.srehup.org
I am working on an ongoing project to spend some time at the center and document the members. There is something that happens when a person sees a nice photograph of themselves, especially those that are struggling with homelessness and other associated issues. They can see themselves in a different light. These photographs can also used for personal reasons such as needed professional photos for employment and such. I spent a lot of time connecting with the guys there and hearing their stories. Part of taking a good portrait is the connection you have with the person you are taking a photo of, which is the favorite part for me.
http://www.srehup.org
Har Jehuda Cemetery Documentation Project
This project just kind of happened. I have documented cemeteries for many, many years. I found it a great way to learn about framing objects. I happened upon Har Jehuda cemetery one day and started taking some photographs. My favorite plots are ones have always photograph markers. I started finding these and some were just age damaged, but as I shot more and more, I realized they had been purposedly vandalized. What struck me the most about this was that there was another person or people going through every row as I was doing, but to damage the plots. It took me six hours to go through the cemetery at kind of a fast pace. There must be at least 10,000 plots if not more. It must have taken them at least 12 hours or more. That idea sickens me. That represents some deep deep hatred. After seeing about 50 of these plots I decided I needed to document all of the broken ones as well as the ones that were not broken in case they eventually were. Honestly it was a very sad and tough process. I am Jewish and I kept seeing the last names of so many people I have known over the years. Between you, me, and the internet when I contacted the Cemetery about offering the photographs and letting them know about this, they blew me off. Anyway it wound up just being a project for myself but I felt it was something I had to do. Lastly there are another 200 or so of these that are not included here. I included a lot of them here so the viewer could understand the enormity of this.
Light of Harmony Band Documentation
Sometimes the things I document are unplanned. West Philly has an event called West Philly Porchfest. I spend my time documenting the event but mostly folks of color, or other minority communites. I hapened upon a porch that was performing old school gospell. I took some promotional photos and documented the event. I offered this because this band was a passion project for the guys involved and they had no real internet prescence or documentation. I also did it because they were awesome folks and great performers. Sometimes the projects I do are more organxzi and simple. If they hired someone for this service most people would haver charged a hundred dollars or probably more. For me the value is giving back to my community. That being said I will definetely come take photos of your band for a hundred dollars or so. Please call I am waiting at the phone right now, but I am busy at 4:15 for about an hour.
Theater in The X - The Wiz and The Beast of Nubia
I used to run a theater company and there was really never any money, especially for documentation. Theater companies need high quality images to be able to apply for grants, as well as have a professional presence online and in the world. I recently offered my services to a recent production in West Philadelphia of "The Wiz" and "The Beast of Nubia" for these reasons.
Mal Cherifi's Ghost Performance
I documented this show of Mal's. Mal Cherifi is a trans & non-binary identified theatre artist living and working in Philly. A wearer of many hats (though they personally only own one hat) Mal is a performer, divisor, director and writer. Different iterations of their work have been toured and performed across the US. Mal is the creator of The Distance Project (Port Fringe) Gender Gender Chicken Tender(SuperObject001/Solow Fest) Capacity for Veracity (Philly Fringe '15) and Whale Studies(Danni’s Bday ‘17). Locally they have been seen in A People (Orbiter 3) Pride Parade! (Wesley Flash) They Extract (Alma's Engine) and The Gauntlet (Medium Theatre). Mal is a member of the Panorama Artist Collective in West Philly. The Leeway Art and Change Grant is the first grant that Mal has ever received and they are feeling incredibly stoked about it!
Robyn aka Swan Flambé Promotional Shots
Robyn is a very talented performer and musician, not to mention a sweetheart of a human being. I worked with Robyn with his concepts.
Drahos Portrait Set and Photography Lesson
I have known Drahos for close to 10 years. He is a kind, positive and friendly person. We did a portrait session. Through connecting with him I found out he is a very talented photographer. I was able to help him with some advanced help, but honestly he know a lot.
Ideate Art Show Promo Shots
The mission of IDEATE is to support our clients to break the cycle of poverty by providing highly vulnerable and underserved individuals person-tailored pathways to careers using technology and community engagement.
Kevin Karcher's Dance Performance at Settlement Music School
I met Kevin through his work with Ideate in which he makes candles and jewelry. His work is great. I was able to document a dance show that he performed in, choreographed, and designed. He is very talented.
Cambodian New Year celebration at Buddhist Temple near Batrams Gardens
Cambodian New Year is the name of the Cambodian holiday that celebrates the traditional Lunar New Year. The holiday lasts for three days beginning on New Year's Day, which usually falls on April 13th or 14th, which is the end of the harvesting season, when farmers enjoy the fruits of their labor before the rainy season begins. Khmers living abroad may choose to celebrate during a weekend rather than just specifically April 13th through 16th. The Khmer New Year coincides with the traditional solar new year in several parts of India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Laos and Thailand.
Joey Michalina Mariano Portrait Session
I have known Joey for many years through booking music and such. She is a sweetheart and a sperb musician and visual artist.
Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in North Philly gospel celebration
The Gospel Chorus were celebrating another year of giving God praise through song. Several choirs and different ministries were guests. They feel that as to know God is going to use us mightily as they bless us through music that the Lord has given them.
Disability Pride Festival
The overall mission of the Disability Pride Parade is: To change the way people think about and define “disability”.Break down and end the internalized shame among people with Disabilities. To promote the belief in society that Disability is a natural and beautiful part of human diversity in which people living with Disabilities can take pride.
Rally for Reproductive Rights
We are a diverse collective of volunteers dedicated to ensuring the preservation of a person’s right to bodily governance through education, resource sharing and advocacy. This rally is being formed as a response to the abortion bans passed in several states across the U.S. We are demonstrating our support for Pro-Choice legislation and aiming to empower other citizens of the United States to reach out to their legislators in order to prevent increasing government control of our human right to body autonomy.
Lets stop just sharing views and opinions with those around us and raise our collective voices against the war currently being waged on cis women, the LGBTQ+ community and every human who should *always* have the right to choose! No one should ever be able to tell another person what they can or cannot do with their bodies–least of all the Government!
Lets stop just sharing views and opinions with those around us and raise our collective voices against the war currently being waged on cis women, the LGBTQ+ community and every human who should *always* have the right to choose! No one should ever be able to tell another person what they can or cannot do with their bodies–least of all the Government!
Pride Parade Philadelphia
So to be honest Pride can afford photographers so this is not exactly a pro bono job. But the reason I shot it anyway was because I have noticed that with many (not all) photographers they seem to focus more on LGBTQ folks that are caucasian. When I shoot a parade of any kind, my purpose always is to document the people who aren't always documented. So I offer this set as to tell the stories of everyone who attended.
Mentoring Béla
I met Béla through his parents through meeting them in the parade world of Philadelphia. I took some photos of him before my first real art show about two years ago. Since then I have taken photos of him over the past few years through some work I did with School of Rock, as well as his parents. He showed some interest in Photography around a year ago and I offered to teach him. I have worked with him over time and he is a pleasure to work with and it learning quite fast. The first section of this gallery are photos I have taken of him over the past two years followed by the photos he has taken working with me and on his own. He is a super talented kid and will be making better work than me in a few years.
Girls’ Leadership Camp
The mission of Girls’ Leadership Camp is to help girls become leaders who take charge of their own lives and also act as agents of positive change in their communities. We accomplish our work by hosting 8-17 year old girls at Camp Sojourner, our summer overnight camp program, and by involving girls in our year-round mentoring, service projects, creative arts, and leadership activities.
Our Values
Girls’ Leadership Camp is founded on the values of respect, diversity, and collaboration, so that its leadership will always include girls and families as key decision makers, and we aim to honor the dignity and experience of all participants.
Our Values
Girls’ Leadership Camp is founded on the values of respect, diversity, and collaboration, so that its leadership will always include girls and families as key decision makers, and we aim to honor the dignity and experience of all participants.
PMA and Joe Cox
In attempt to understand and fight the world of Trump I was documenting a lot of political rallies and was seeing Joe around. He is hard to miss. What impressed me and still does is that Joe is at everything. Any protest or celebration of us others, Joe is there to meet people and fight for them. He also runs an awesome organization called PMA Bike Ride where he feeds the people of Philadelphia and offers some hope and positivity too them. This represents portraits of Joe and the work he has done.
PMA
In the words of max
Recently I joined an amazing volunteer community bike ride(bike not needed) a ride that could make for a great story.
The ride is titled the PMA Bike Ride, with PMA standing for "Positive Mental Attitude". We ride (and walk, if you don't have a bike!) through various neighborhoods around Philadelphia (Kensington, Center City, West Philly and South Philly) distributing pizza and positivity to persons experiencing hunger and/or homelessness on the streets. More than just a hot slice, we aim to acknowledge the voice, value and humanity of those too often looked down upon.
Our Story: Make a stranger smile
The PMA bike ride was started in Philadelphia, PA on June 24th, 2016. PMA stands for positive mental attitude and that is what we wish to spread. We deliver smiles and pizza to the hungry on the streets. Now an official non-profit, we are dreaming big and looking to expand our ride in Philadelphia and beyond!
With so much negativity in the world we need to do everything we can to be the change and spread PMA
http://www.thepmabikeride.com
Joe Cox for City Council at Large
Independent Progressive, running for City Council At Large (11/5/19). I believe that everyone should have Equal Rights: access to safe streets, clean environment, and education regardless of race, sex, identity, religion, or zip code. People First!
https://www.pmajoe4council.com
PMA
In the words of max
Recently I joined an amazing volunteer community bike ride(bike not needed) a ride that could make for a great story.
The ride is titled the PMA Bike Ride, with PMA standing for "Positive Mental Attitude". We ride (and walk, if you don't have a bike!) through various neighborhoods around Philadelphia (Kensington, Center City, West Philly and South Philly) distributing pizza and positivity to persons experiencing hunger and/or homelessness on the streets. More than just a hot slice, we aim to acknowledge the voice, value and humanity of those too often looked down upon.
Our Story: Make a stranger smile
The PMA bike ride was started in Philadelphia, PA on June 24th, 2016. PMA stands for positive mental attitude and that is what we wish to spread. We deliver smiles and pizza to the hungry on the streets. Now an official non-profit, we are dreaming big and looking to expand our ride in Philadelphia and beyond!
With so much negativity in the world we need to do everything we can to be the change and spread PMA
http://www.thepmabikeride.com
Joe Cox for City Council at Large
Independent Progressive, running for City Council At Large (11/5/19). I believe that everyone should have Equal Rights: access to safe streets, clean environment, and education regardless of race, sex, identity, religion, or zip code. People First!
https://www.pmajoe4council.com
Bartram's Gardens Free Public Events
I have been documenting free public events for Bartram's Gardens. If you have not been there. Go.
Bartram’s Garden is a 45-acre National Historic Landmark, operated by the John Bartram Association in cooperation with Philadelphia Parks and Recreation. It is a destination and an outdoor classroom, living laboratory, and membership organization for ever-expanding audiences―over 95,000 each year and counting.we invite you to come here to learn, connect, celebrate, and discover a shared, greener future!
The John Bartram Association’s mission is to protect and enhance the landmark Bartram’s Garden and House; advance the Bartram legacy of discovery, gardening, and art; and inspire audiences of all ages to care for the natural world.
Bartram’s Garden is a 45-acre National Historic Landmark, operated by the John Bartram Association in cooperation with Philadelphia Parks and Recreation. It is a destination and an outdoor classroom, living laboratory, and membership organization for ever-expanding audiences―over 95,000 each year and counting.we invite you to come here to learn, connect, celebrate, and discover a shared, greener future!
The John Bartram Association’s mission is to protect and enhance the landmark Bartram’s Garden and House; advance the Bartram legacy of discovery, gardening, and art; and inspire audiences of all ages to care for the natural world.
Sinkhole Drag Show
This was a drag show in honor of the short lived attraction the West Philly Sinkhole
Penn Jersey Roller Derby
I did some promotional photos for PJRD. Formed in 2005, we are proud to be the first roller derby league on the east coast to offer both banked and flat track co-ed roller derby action! PJRD is a skater-owned and operated league of 80+ members located in Philadelphia. We have 2 men's travel teams (the Hooligans A team, and the Shenanigans B team) and 2 women's travel teams (the She-Devils A team and the B-Devils B team), as well as a healthy pool of alternates honing their skills as swing players. We pride ourselves on accepting anyone and everyone, and training every new recruit from the ground up. Our warehouse serves as both our practice space and is open at least 4 days a week and is also our venue for all of our home games.
Andrew Iglesias Community Garden
I did some impromptu documentary shooting at a few events over a summer. A community garden built by Philly Socialists and community allies on tax delinquent vacant land to bring joy and beauty to the neighborhood. In 2012, Philly Socialists and our friends and neighbors expropriated parcels of vacant, tax-delinquent land and converted it into a community garden and people's park. We continue to run youth programs, block parties, and other serve the people programs from the site. César Andreu Iglesias (July 31, 1915 – April 17, 1976) was a Puerto Rican journalist, novelist, and communist political activist. We hope our garden serves as a legacy to a great Boricua author and revolutionary.
Fletcher Street Riding Club
Ellis Ferrell, founder of Fletcher Street Urban Riding Club, recalls his bull riding days at his grandmothers’ farm in Tallahassee, Florida early on. There was no other sport comparable to the adrenaline rush of a wildly bucking bull in his impressionable mind; that is, until he began watching westerns at the local theatre. Ferrell marveled at the bold powerful stallions racing across sweeping landscapes as symbols of saviors. By the late 1940s Ferrell was riding horses on the streets of Philadelphia, renting them in Fairmount Park. Mastering equestrian skills over the years, Ferrell envisioned the sport as a unique opportunity to broaden the horizon of urban youth; teach them horsemanship, improve mental fortitude, physical stamina and develop attributes that could be applied to real-world competition. “Horse riding is not only therapeutic and instills discipline,” says Ferrell, “but it enables a sense of empowerment to the disenfranchised and those living in communities of hopelessness.” Ferrell’s dream was realized in 1980 on 31st and Master Street with a stable of five (5) (?) horses. He recalls those being the good times when members—both children and adults—strolled in a stately pace throughout the streets. On weekends there would be groups of them trotting off to equine camp grounds where children were responsible for maintaining and caring for the horses while building character, confidence and self-esteem in the process. In 2004, Ferrell moved his stable to Fletcher Street attracting numerous members to the riding community. At 80 years young today—and still holding the reigns—Ferrell’s vision burns bright for the new generation. Proudly, Fletcher Street Urban Riding Club has attracted world-wide attention from notable photographers, filmmakers, music artists and sports organizations like Nike with its gutsy resilience to remain a historical facet of Philadelphia’s community. And with new leadership expanding Ferrell’s efforts, his legacy is sure to live on.
The Charles Foundation
The CHARLES Foundation was created in memory of Charles Andre' Johnson, born September 20th, 1992. On January 12, 2011 at 10:40pm in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania two young men walked up to the car that Charles was sitting in while waiting for his sister and opened fire. At 12:55am on January 13th, 2011 Charles Andre' Johnson, 18 years old, died of fatal gunshot wounds at Einstein Hospital. The Philadelphia police found that Charles was killed in a case of mistaken identity by two young men aged 23 and 25 years old who had previous criminal arrest records. Prior to his death Charles worked full time in the family business, caring for over 100 chronically mentally ill adults. Twenty-six days after his death, Charles' first and only child Khalif was born. Our work aims to keep parents from having to bury their children, and children from having to visit their parents in cemeteries. The Charles Foundation (Creating Healthy Alternatives Results in Less Emotional Suffering) was created and implemented by Charles' parents, brother, and two sisters. It was created to provide advocacy and assist children with skills, self-esteem building and conflict resolution in an attempt to reduce violence and murder in our communities. We are working with a variety of grassroots and community organizations to reduce community violence. It is our hope and prayer that this foundation will be the basis of recovery and redemption for many so that they do not end up dead or in prison.
Spring Fling 2021 First Women's Skateboarding Contest at JFK Skatepark
Check out this link for more info. https://juicemagazine.com/home/spring-fling-2021-first-womens-skateboarding-contest-at-fdr/
Philadelphia Freedom Band
Our Mission
The Philadelphia Freedom Band seeks to be a place where anyone - LGBTQ+ and allies - can enjoy playing and performing music in a friendly and supportive atmosphere. We are comprised of a wide variation of talented people, from beginners to college educated professional musicians. We come together to improve as individuals, perform for the public and be visible as folks who support the LGBTQ+ community. We welcome anyone who wants to play in our multiple bands (concert, marching and small ensembles) and understand our mission.
http://www.philadelphiafreedomband.com
The Philadelphia Freedom Band seeks to be a place where anyone - LGBTQ+ and allies - can enjoy playing and performing music in a friendly and supportive atmosphere. We are comprised of a wide variation of talented people, from beginners to college educated professional musicians. We come together to improve as individuals, perform for the public and be visible as folks who support the LGBTQ+ community. We welcome anyone who wants to play in our multiple bands (concert, marching and small ensembles) and understand our mission.
http://www.philadelphiafreedomband.com
Souls Shot Portrait Project
I documented a project as part the amazing work of Souls Shot Portrait Project over the next year. Here is info about this great organziation.
OUR STORY, OUR MISSION This project links fine artists with families or friends of victims of gun violence. The artists meet with the victims' loved ones to learn about the lives they lived. Our goal is to present diverse works that in some way relay graphically, or through narrative, the essence of the person being portrayed. Our mission is to bring attention to and memorialize the lives lost and tragically altered due to gun violence. Portraits have the unique ability to call out the souls and profoundly affect those who see them. We hope that this project will continue to bring some joy and peace to the families and friends of victims and, by bringing attention to the scourge of gun violence in this way, be a call to action to all who see them. We will continue with this project, expand its reach, and hopefully reach the blessed day it will no longer be needed.
images coming soon
www.soulsshotportraitproject.org/
OUR STORY, OUR MISSION This project links fine artists with families or friends of victims of gun violence. The artists meet with the victims' loved ones to learn about the lives they lived. Our goal is to present diverse works that in some way relay graphically, or through narrative, the essence of the person being portrayed. Our mission is to bring attention to and memorialize the lives lost and tragically altered due to gun violence. Portraits have the unique ability to call out the souls and profoundly affect those who see them. We hope that this project will continue to bring some joy and peace to the families and friends of victims and, by bringing attention to the scourge of gun violence in this way, be a call to action to all who see them. We will continue with this project, expand its reach, and hopefully reach the blessed day it will no longer be needed.
images coming soon
www.soulsshotportraitproject.org/
Philadelphia Homeless Memorial Day
Every year, on the first official day of winter, hundreds of Philadelphians gather to remember those homeless and formerly homeless Philadelphians who died and to call for an end to homelessness.
Please join us for the 2021 Philadelphia Homeless Memorial Day on Tuesday, December 21, 4-5pm at Thomas Paine Plaza (in front of the Municipal Services Building at 15th St. and JFK). See more details and RSVP to the event on Facebook.
We have made much progress in Philadelphia in combating homelessness, but the crisis persists. The opioid epidemic and COVID-19 pandemic are claiming hundreds of lives. We must continue to speak out about the struggles of people who experience homelessness, poverty, and addiction. We must all work together – including elected officials – to expand effective solutions and build a truly just society for all persons
Please help us to gather the names of all those Philadelphians who have experienced homelessness and died in 2021.
Please join us for the 2021 Philadelphia Homeless Memorial Day on Tuesday, December 21, 4-5pm at Thomas Paine Plaza (in front of the Municipal Services Building at 15th St. and JFK). See more details and RSVP to the event on Facebook.
We have made much progress in Philadelphia in combating homelessness, but the crisis persists. The opioid epidemic and COVID-19 pandemic are claiming hundreds of lives. We must continue to speak out about the struggles of people who experience homelessness, poverty, and addiction. We must all work together – including elected officials – to expand effective solutions and build a truly just society for all persons
Please help us to gather the names of all those Philadelphians who have experienced homelessness and died in 2021.
